by scribe | Oct 22, 2012 | Chess Lecture, current news, people, tournaments
This year’s Western States Open ended up with a four-way tie for first place, an appropriate result for a tournament where nobody seemed to be able to make a decisive move away from the pack. (Remember the nine-way tie for first after round three?) The four...
by scribe | Oct 20, 2012 | Chess Lecture, current news, games, positions, tournaments
What a crazy day at the Western States Open! First, I should update the leaders. After three rounds we had a nine-way tie for first place at 2½-½! The nine leaders were also the nine highest-rated players in the tournament. I’m afraid that I don’t remember...
by scribe | Oct 19, 2012 | current news, games, positions, tournaments
One round down, and the Western States Open started on a positive note for me. I drew against a 2400 player named Alexander Kretchetov in only 20 moves. Before you say “grandmaster draw,” take a look at the final position. FEN:...
by scribe | Oct 12, 2012 | chess clubs, current news, literature, people, US Chess League
I’ve posted about this before, but I think it’s worth another mention. Next week, on October 19, the documentary Brooklyn Castle will open in two theaters in New York: Lincoln Center and the Landmark Sunshine. (I’m not a New Yorker, but even I have...
by scribe | Oct 9, 2012 | current news, tournaments
For fun, I just did something I never do: Look at the pre-registered entries for the next tournament I’m playing in, the Western States Open in Reno. It’s still ten days away, so there will surely be more entries, but here is how it looks so far in the...
by scribe | Oct 6, 2012 | current news, literature, off-topic, ruminations
Announcement! On Monday, October 8, the Numberplay blog in the New York Times will feature a problem based on my book, The Universe in Zero Words, and it will also have excerpts from my book. (In fact, it may have a whole chapter; I’m not really sure.)...
